1. < Just Want to Talk
Mentor

Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Feb 19, 2020

Many of you living with cancer or an autoimmune disease, like me, deal with daily fatigue. You know that exercise is so important to your health, but it’s so hard. There’s always an excuse: it’s too cold or hot, it’s going to rain or it’s raining, or it’s snowy and icy, or I just don’t want to. I, too, have all these excuses, but I have a new rescue dog who wants to go out and who doesn’t care about my excuses! And I’ve got traction devices for my boots.Now I just need a walking group who will keep me accountable. People who say, ‘let’s go for a walk.'

And I thought: What about my virtual friends on MayoClinicConnect?

Mayo Clinic has an easy 12-week walking program to get us started! Here’s the link:
- Get walking with this 12-week walking schedule https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/get-walking-with-this-12-week-walking-schedule/

So let’s form a virtual walking group. We can agree to walk every day and encourage each other through Connect. We can walk outdoors, in a mall, or in the red center, or in the hallways of our apartment building.

Who’s in? Who’s going to join me?

Come on, Let’s Go Walking!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

Mentor
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @jude07 "I love Poe’s character, what a sweet bird!" + (show)
@jude07

I love Poe’s character, what a sweet bird!

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@jude07 Poe was a character for sure and anything but sweet natured! He outlived 3 dogs and tortured each by calling or whistling to them as if it were me or my husband. When the dog would come into the room, Poe would yell (in MY voice) “No, go lie down”, he’d steal chew toys, he’d bite me when feeding unless he wanted his head scratched. Then he’d say, “Scratch my head!” Cantankerous and curmudgeonly...two words for that old crow. Giggle.

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2 replies
artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @jude07 "I love Poe’s character, what a sweet bird!" + (show)
@jude07

I love Poe’s character, what a sweet bird!

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@jude07 Ah yes. "Nevermore". I did a 4'x8' painting on Poe's theme! My Shrink bought it. Lol.

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joybringer1 | @joybringer1 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @artist01 "@wisco50, yes, I wrote down all my parrots' words and phrases too. Like you, I eventually..." + (show)
@artist01

@wisco50, yes, I wrote down all my parrots' words and phrases too. Like you, I eventually had to rehome them to a wonderful home because of my health issues. The night before Touga was to leave, my friend came over and sat next to him as he sat on his little table/perch. She explained to him how he had had a wonderful life with me, and was so well loved and cared for, but now mummy had to give him to another loving family. Touga listened carefully to the long story, and quietly and sadly said, "OK". I'm sure he understood her every word. I've never sobbed so hard, the morning of his departure. Ah, our wonderful pets.

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@artist01, What a touching story. I understand about sobbing. Anyone who has ever owned a pet knows the heartbreak of losing a much-loved companion. Your story brought tears. Many of us have lost pets and I still cry when I think of our first dog's death. Wow, here come the tears again. I need to switch gears and start doing some work around the house. Thinking of you, @joybringer1

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1 reply
artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @fiesty76 "Oh, @artist01, I am not an easy crier but this has tears streaming! We mortals have..." + (show)
@fiesty76

Oh, @artist01, I am not an easy crier but this has tears streaming! We mortals have so much to learn from our animal families. So often I think they have a much better understanding of people than we of them. This is one of the most touching posts I've read. Think I'd better "layer up" and take a brief walk to refocus. Thank you for this heart touching share.

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@feisty76, Aaww, thankyou sincerely for sharing my tears. I hope you have now been able to refocus with a good walk! Thankyou to all of you wonderful folks who replied to my parrot story. Now I have a giant lump in my throat and hope nobody comes in and catches me in this emotional unable-to-speak state. Lol.

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artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @joybringer1 "@artist01, What a touching story. I understand about sobbing. Anyone who has ever owned a pet..." + (show)
@joybringer1

@artist01, What a touching story. I understand about sobbing. Anyone who has ever owned a pet knows the heartbreak of losing a much-loved companion. Your story brought tears. Many of us have lost pets and I still cry when I think of our first dog's death. Wow, here come the tears again. I need to switch gears and start doing some work around the house. Thinking of you, @joybringer1

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@joybringer1, Thankyou for your sweet empathy. People who don't have pets will never understand us, will they? My long life has been so enriched by all my dogs, cats, cockatiels, canaries, parrots, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, tortoise, ummm, ....what have I missed? Loved them all, grieved every loss. I know you and so many of our Mayo family join me in this. Go on and get you house chores done now! Lol.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @artist01 "I feel like I've let everyone down. All my talk about starting to walk outdoors again,..." + (show)
@artist01

I feel like I've let everyone down. All my talk about starting to walk outdoors again, after 2 long years of inability, and now haven't been able to get back into my walking program for days on end. First, snow for 5 days, then too icey, then 2 new medications and felt awful for days, then a doctor appointment out of town, then...
welll, you know. So many of you had posted congratulatory and motivating texts to me. I felt elated! I have another doctor appointment tomorrow and then I hope no snow in the forecast. I hope to get back to my walks on the weekend. Thanks so much to all of you for your support. Happy trails! Laurie

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@artist01 Laurie, did you know that putting the walking "into" your mind, imagining the expenditure of energy, the beauty of the walk, the benefits of fresh air rattling around in your mind, can do wonders for you, even on days when you cannot physically get out to do it? I love to walk, and this time of year there is a little creek I go to watch the water and hear the burble of the flow over tree roots and rocks. Not feeling well lately, I often go there in my mind. When I can muster a [very slow!] stroll down the driveway down the incline to the cul-de-sac, that burbling water and freshness of coming spring fill my mind. It is a great motivator. Try it! You'll see!
Ginger

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1 reply
artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @loribmt "@artist01, @wisco. Just had to drop in to say Hi!! I’m so encouraged by your walking..." + (show)
@loribmt

@artist01, @wisco. Just had to drop in to say Hi!! I’m so encouraged by your walking stories, and even though you can’t get out, you’re still thinking about walking!! So that means the wander lust is still with you. Giggle. At the risk of going totally off topic, I have to say I too, had an African Grey. He was one of the most cantankerous, ornery and entertaining companions! LOL. His name was Poe and similar to your birds, Laura, had an enormous working vocabulary and array of every sound imaginable from keys dangling, doors opening, squeaks in floors, microwaves, mimicking our infant daughter’s cry so I’d run in two directions, etc. Never a dull moment!
“Hi, my name is Poe Parrot. I can talk, can you fly?” Used to freak people out all the time. Enjoy the day ahead! Air Hugs! Lori.

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Lori, thankyou for encouraging my wanderlust. Soon, soon.
I think there's going to be several of us parrot and pet lovers booted off this site for being off topic! Maybe we could start up an African Grey site? Lol.
Just one more sentence pleeeese...my two Greys were ornery, cantankerous and all that too, but mixed with the kissiest, sweetest, cuddliest moments. No telling which mood it would be. Lol.
But I loved them anyway!

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1 reply
artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @gingerw "@artist01 Laurie, did you know that putting the walking "into" your mind, imagining the expenditure of..." + (show)
@gingerw

@artist01 Laurie, did you know that putting the walking "into" your mind, imagining the expenditure of energy, the beauty of the walk, the benefits of fresh air rattling around in your mind, can do wonders for you, even on days when you cannot physically get out to do it? I love to walk, and this time of year there is a little creek I go to watch the water and hear the burble of the flow over tree roots and rocks. Not feeling well lately, I often go there in my mind. When I can muster a [very slow!] stroll down the driveway down the incline to the cul-de-sac, that burbling water and freshness of coming spring fill my mind. It is a great motivator. Try it! You'll see!
Ginger

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Ginger, good reminder for me to "visualize" an awesome walk in nature.
Also, I have a great artist friend who hikes the woods and sends pictures and descriptions on Facebook. She knows I love TREES, and sends beautiful photos of their close-up "portraits" addressed particularly to me. Awesome for my mood pickup!

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artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @fiesty76 "@artist01, Your share about having "a tape of the surgery" brought a smile. The surgeon asked..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@artist01, Your share about having "a tape of the surgery" brought a smile. The surgeon asked my daughter if might like having the plaque removed from my carotid artery surgery and my daughter quickly assured him that I would. Kept that bottle of plaque and "proudly" shared it with others later. As for yours being Rotator Cuff surgery, others have told me it is one of the most painful to recover from. Wishing all pain relief from whatever their "Ouchies"!

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@feisty1, laughed out loud at your plaque trophy! And yes, that rotator cuff surgery was a brute to recover from. That's why I didn't want to have my other shoulder done. Since it was my left, so not my dominant, I've learned how to shelter it by my choice of movement over the years. My other shoulder has been pain-free following a long recovery and months of p.t. three times a week. P.T. is SO worth it. No pain, no gain. Do it if you need it, folks. You'll never regret it. My best to all. Laurie

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artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @loribmt "@jude07 Poe was a character for sure and anything but sweet natured! He outlived 3 dogs..." + (show)
@loribmt

@jude07 Poe was a character for sure and anything but sweet natured! He outlived 3 dogs and tortured each by calling or whistling to them as if it were me or my husband. When the dog would come into the room, Poe would yell (in MY voice) “No, go lie down”, he’d steal chew toys, he’d bite me when feeding unless he wanted his head scratched. Then he’d say, “Scratch my head!” Cantankerous and curmudgeonly...two words for that old crow. Giggle.

Jump to this post

Lori, our parrot stories are so similar. Mine used to do so many of the vocals yours would do, but could also exactly mimic my phone ringing, (that was before cell phones - the old landline), or bark like my dog would do when she needed to go out. I was forever running to answer the phone or running to the back door to let an invisible dog out! Those were the best of times, we thought they'd never end...😥. Laurie

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